JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As the Fourth of July celebrations come to a close, airports nationwide, including Jacksonville’s, are experiencing a final wave of travelers returning home.

AAA predicted that a historic 72.2 million Americans would journey at least 50 miles away from home between June 28 and July 6, marking this as the busiest travel window for the Fourth of July ever recorded.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also projected it would screen more than 18.5 million travelers nationwide during this stretch.

Even with these unprecedented numbers, numerous passengers at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) reported that their trips were seamless and efficiently managed.

“We have traveled into different airports and we really like Jacksonville. It’s a really nice airport, everything runs smoothly—we really don’t have a problem here,” Deirdre Murray, a traveler returning home to Chicago, said.

While long lines and large crowds were present throughout the day, flyers said security lines moved quickly and airport staff kept things flowing efficiently.

As flights continue into Sunday evening, airport officials continue to encourage travelers to arrive at least two hours early, especially during holiday peaks, and to check flight statuses before arriving at the airport.

Travelers at Jacksonville International Airport tell First Coast News they’re ending the weekend on a high note, with no major delays or headaches.

Murray also tells First Coast News that traveling out of town for Fourth of July weekend has become a family tradition, and coming to Jacksonville this year really made her weekend eventful. 

“we’re usually here this week, every year and we had a great time went to some parties and relax, chilled out. Stayed in a nice resort for a couple of days,” Murray said.